Device for making aerated soft drinks

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are disclosed for making soft drinks wherein disposable air tight containers for the syrup are used, the container being placed under pressure by compressed gas, which thus causes the liquid to mix with the gas, and which causes the emulsion thus formed to be conveyed to apparatus for adding water to form the soft drink which is then refrigerated and dispensed.

United States Patent Garavelli 1451 July 4, 1972 [54] DEVICE FOR MAKING AERATED SOFT DRINKS [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

Giancarlo Garavelli, Milan, Italy Heron Establishment, Vaduz, Liechtenstein [22] Filed: June 12,1970

[21] App1.No.: 45,723

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 18, 1969 Switzerland ..9282/69 52 u.s.c1. ..261/18 B, 261/78 A, 261/D1G.7, 222/1291 51 Int. Cl ..B67d 5/56 58 Field of Search ..261/D1G. 7,78 A, 18 B; 222/1291, 129.2, 129.3, 129.4; 99/79 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATIENTS 757,886 4/1904 Cochrane ..26l/DIG. 7 1,058,383 4/1913 Von Pein ..261/D1G. 7

3,195,779 7/1965 Nicko ..222/129.1 3,240,395 3/1966 Carver ..26l/D1G. 7 3,282,571 11/1966 Guggenberger ..99/79 3,583,601 6/1971 Ayers ..222/129.1

Primary Examiner-Tim R. Miles Atmrney-Kimmel, Crowell & Weaver 57 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus are disclosed for making soft drinks wherein disposable air tight containers for the syrup are used, the container being placed under pressure by compressed gas, which thus causes the liquid to mix with the gas, and which causes the emulsion thus formed to be conveyed to apparatus for adding water to form the soft drink which is then refrigerated and dispensed.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR MAKING AERATED SOFI DRINKS The present disclosure concerns a method for making aerated soft drinks for dispensing machines, and a device for putting the method into practice.

The customary procedure for the preparation of aerated soft drinks is to prepare the drink (concentrated flavoring in the form of a syrup liquid gas) at some central distributing point, place it in containers and then transport it to the dispensing machines from which, due to the pressure in the containers holding the drink, the drink will be dispensed to the consumer. Such dispensing machines are large, as the drink is contained within them in the same form as that in which it is to be drunk.

The present invention proposes a more rational solution to the problem of manufacturing and distributing aerated soft drinks, in that only the concentrated syrup has to be transported from the center where it is prepared to the dispensing machines, with the liquid and the gas being added in the dispensing machine. Another aim of the present invention is to reduce the size of the dispensing machine by virtue of the fact that, instead of storing water in the machine, the liquid necessary for making the drink is drawn directly from the local drinking water supply.

The present disclosure concerns a method for making aerated soft drinks for dispensing machines, which method consists in injecting gas from a cylinder of compressed gas into a container holding the concentrated form of the drink (syrup), so that an emulsion is formed, and this emulsion is caused to be conveyed by the gas pressure to where the necessary quantity of water for making the aerated soft drink is added. The mixing chamber, or apparatus for providing water, is refrigerated by conventional means to cool the soft drink before it is dispensed to the consumer. It is contemplated that formation of the emulsion may take place in the syrup container or in a separate emulsifying chamber located outside of the syrup container.

The invention contemplates apparatus for adding water associated with devices of conventional design for refrigerating and dispensing the soft drink; a replaceable syrup concentrate container having an opening in the top with a collar sealing the opening; a central core that is adapted to be inserted through the collar of the container when the container is in use; a source of gas (preferably carbon dioxide) under pressure; means connecting said source of gas to said syrup container through said core; means connecting said syrup container and said apparatus for adding water through said core; and means for emulsifying said syrup and said gas before it reaches the apparatus for adding water. If desired, aerated water may be used in lieu of plain drinking water in the apparatus for adding water.

As will easily be seen, such a device substantially reduces the size of the dispensing machine, which has only to perform the operations of adding water, or aerated water, of refrigerating the drink and of actually dispensing it. Further, the emulsifying device, working at a pressure of only 2 or 3 atmospheres, makes it possible to use disposable containers for the drink in its concentrated form, since such containers can withstand pressures of up to atmospheres.

The present invention is schematically illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 represents a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the central core;

FIG. 3 represents a partial cross-sectional view of the collar for the syrup container before it is brought into use (in closed position);

FIG. 4 represents a partial cross-sectional view of the same collar after the core has been inserted therethrough;

FIG. 5 represents a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the device;

FIG. 6 represents a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the central core; and

FIG. 7 represents a cross-sectional view of an external emulsifier according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numbers indicate like parts throughout the several figures, it will be seen that the soft drink making machine in cludes a separate, air tight, disposable syrup container 1 for holding the syrup 17, the container 1 being linked, on the one hand, to a source of gas under pressure 18 and on the other hand to an apparatus for, adding water 11 (shown schematically). The apparatus 11 is connected to means for refrigerating and dispensing the drink (not shown). The container 1 has only one opening 2, which can be sealed by means of a collar 3 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The container 1 has a circular opening 2 in the top thereof which is fitted with a circular, cone-shaped collar 3 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) having a horizontal circular groove 27 integrally formed on the, outside thereof for clamping engagement with the peripheral edge of the opening in the top of the container. Inwardly extending ribs 26 are formed on the inner wall of the collar for cooperation with seal 16 on core 4 to ensure that the container is air tight after the core has been inserted. A thin membrane 25 is provided at the bottom of collar 3, which will keep the container sealed until it is pierced by insertion of the core 4 into the container. A safety cap or stopper 23 is also provided for insertion into the top of the collar 3 to keep dirt and other foreign material out until the container is ready to be used.

In the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the container 1 is brought into service by inserting the vertical central core 4 through the opening 2 at the top of the container 1. The central core 4 includes three vertical passages (5, 8 and 13, respectively). Inlet passage 5, which is. used for feeding pressurized gas into container 1, has the upper end thereof connected to a feed line 6 by means of a valve 7. The lower end of the passage 5 opens into the container 1 at the bottom of the core 4. The gas entering the containers will mix with the syrup 17. The second passage 8, which is used to discharge a gasliquid emulsion from container 1, has the upper end thereof connected to an outlet line 9 by means of a valve 10. The lower end of the second passage 8 opens into the container 1 at the bottom of core 4. The syrup 17 with gas therein will pass upwardly therethrough. The third passage 13 is provided with a calibrated aperture 14 at its upper end which opens into the air space between the top of the syrup 17 and the top of container l. The bottom of the third passage 13 connects with the second or outlet passage 8 near the bottom thereof. Gas from the air space above the syrup will pass through calibrated opening 14, third passage 13 and into second passage 8. Passage of the gas into second passage 8 will cause the liquid syrup 17, being forced upwardly through the bottom of the second passage, to be further enriched with gas for complete emulsification.

In another embodiment (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7), the container l is brought into use by means of a simplified central core 4 which is introduced through the opening at the top of the container 1. This central core includes only the first or inlet passage 5 and the second or outlet passage 8. Passage 8 is connected to an outlet line 20 by means of a valve 10. Passage 5 is connected by valve 7 to an inlet line 6 leading from a source of gas pressure 18. The outlet line 20 is connected to a separate and independent, external emulsifier 31 by means of connecting valves 29. A feed line 19, connected to the source of gas under pressure 18, is connected to the emulsifier by valve 38.

As will be seen from FIG. 7, the emulsifier 31 consists of a vertical, flat-bottomed, cylindrical container 30, with two valves in the side wall, the upper one 381 being for admission of the gas, and the lower 29 for admission of the liquid syrup 17. A collared lid 32, having an air tight circular seal 33 is provided. The lid 32 has a collar member 28a formed integrally on its top, with circular sealing rings 28 being provided thereon. The lid 32 has on its underside an integral, downwardly extending cylindrical core 34. An internal passage 35 extends from the top of the collar 280, through the lid 32 to the bottom of the core 34. The core 34 has an opening 36 at the bottom and a second opening 21 in the side, adjacent the bottom. The core 34 is surrounded by a cylinder 37 which has an opening 39 in its side near the top, an opening 39a in its bottom and a groove 40 leading from the level of the opening 39 to that of opening 21 in the core 34. Circular, horizontal seals 22 are placed between the core 34 and cylinder 37 above and below openings 21 and 39 to isolate the groove 40 from the rest of the space between the core 34 and the cylinder 37.

The emulsifier 31 may be linked directly to the apparatus for adding water 11 through the collar 28a, which is kept air tight by its circular seals 28 or else it may be linked to the apparatus for providing water by means of an outlet line 9 and a connecting valve 10', the outlet line 9 being connected to the apparatus for adding water 1 1 by another connecting valve 12. The emulsifier 31 may have a circular, horizontal membrane 24 separating the syrup in the bottom of the container 30, from the pressurized gas in the upper half of the container, if desired.

In this embodiment gas under pressure enters container 1 through passage 5 and forces syrup 17 out of the container through outlet line 20 to the emulsifier 31. Gas under pressure enters the emulsifier through line 19, passes through opening 39, groove 40 and opening 21 and thence upwardly through passage 35. When the gas flows upwardly into passage 35, the syrup in the bottom of the emulsifier 31 will be drawn upwardly through opening 39a, through opening 39, and will be mixed or emulsified with the gas, after which the emulsion will pass through line 9 to the apparatus for adding water 1 1.

A third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. In this embodiment the syrup container 1 is brought into service by insetting core 4 through collar 3, the seal 16 maintaining container l in an air tight condition. Gas from the source of gas under pressure 18 flows through line 6, valve 7 and passage 5 into container 1, where it mixes with the syrup 17 and pressurizes the container. The pressure in the container then forces the mixture of the syrup and gas upwardly through passage 8, valve 10, line 20 and into the apparatus for providing water where the water, syrup and gas are mixed, and are then cooled and led to the dispensing unit.

The device of the present invention makes it possible to use syrup containers which are always ready for use; which can be sterilized or pasturized if necessary; and which can be thrown away once they are empty.

The container 1 can be disconnected from the gas pressure source 18 and from the apparatus for adding water 11 and from the emulsifier 31 if this is a separate unit, by means of the appropriate connecting valves, without there being any contact whatsoever between the liquid syrup for making the soft drink and the outside, possibly polluted air, or any other foreign body. This represents a substantial step forward both from the commercial and from the technical points of view.

I claim:

1. A device for making aerated soft drinks for use in dispensing machines comprising an air tight container for syrup,

a source of gas under pressure,

apparatus for providing water,

means connecting said source of gas under pressure with said syrup container,

means connecting said syrup container with said apparatus for providing water,

means for conveying material from said apparatus for providing water to said dispensing machine for dispensing therefrom, and

means for emulsifying said syrup and said gas prior to conveyance thereof to said apparatus for providing water.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 further including a core for introduction into said container for bringing said container into use,

said core having first and second passages extending downwardly therethrough,

said first passage being connected to said means connecting said source of gas under pressure to said syrup container,

said second passage being connected to said means connecting said syrup container with said apparatus for providing water.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the emulsifying means are disposed within the syrup container when said container is in use.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the emulsifying means consists of a third passage extending upwardly through a part of said core,

said core having a calibrated aperture therethrough communicating with the upper end of said third passage, said calibrated aperature being positioned just below the top of said container when said core is in operative position in what would normally be an air space,

means connecting the lower end of said third passage with said second passage.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said syrup container has an opening through the top thereof,

a collar member secured in said opening,

said collar member having a central opening defining a vertically disposed, circular, inner wall,

ribs integrally formed on said inner wall,

and sealing means on the exterior of said core for cooperation with said ribs in sealing said syrup container when said core is inserted into said container through said collar.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein a thin membrane is formed integrally with said inner wall adjacent the bottom thereof, which membrane will be pierced by said core when said syrup container is connected to said core, and

a removable cap is provided to seal off the upper end of said central opening in said collar.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the emulsifying means are placed outside of the syrup container when said container is in use.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said emulsifying means includes a first cylindrical open topped container,

a lid sealingly engaged on the top of said first cylindrical container,

a downwardly extending cylindrical core integrally formed on the underside of said lid,

a passage extending from the top of said lid to the bottom of said core,

an opening in the side of said core adjacent its bottom and a second opening in the bottom of said core,

a second cylinder surrounding said core in spaced relation thereto,

said second cylinder having an opening through the bottom thereof and a second opening extending through the side thereof adjacent the upper part thereof,

a groove in said second cylinder extending from the level of said second opening in said second cylinder to the level of said opening in the side of said core,

seal means between said core and said second cylinder above said second opening in said second cylinder,

seal means between said core and said second cylinder below said opening in the side of said core,

valve means connecting the interior of said first cylindrical container with said source of gas under pressure,

said means connecting said syrup container with said apparatus for providing water being connected to said emulsifying means whereby said gas and syrup mixture will pass through said emulsifying means for emulsifying action.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein sifier may be directly connected to said apparatus for providing water.

1 l. A device as set forth in claim 8 including a connecting valve on said lid,

a connecting valve on said apparatus for providing water,

and

an outlet line extending between said first connecting valve and said second connecting valve. 

1. A device for making aerated soft drinks for use in dispensing machines comprising an air tight container for syrup, a source of gas under pressure, apparatus for providing water, means connecting said source of gas under pressure with said syrup container, means connecting said syrup container with said apparatus for providing water, means for conveying material from said apparatus for providing water to said dispensing machine for dispensing therefrom, and means for emulsifying said syrup and said gas prior to conveyance thereof to said apparatus for providing water.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 further including a core for introduction into said container for bringing said container into use, said core having first and second passages extending downwardly therethrough, said first passage being connected to said means connecting said source of gas under pressure to said syrup container, said second passage being connected to said means connecting said syrup container with said apparatus for providing water.
 3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the emulsifying means are disposed within the syrup container when said container is in use.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the emulsifying means consists of a third passage extending upwardly through a part of said core, said core having a calibrated aperture therethrough communicating with the upper end of said third passage, said calibrated aperature being positioned just below the top of said container when said core is in operative position in what would normally be an air space, means connecting the lower end of said third passage with said second passage.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said syrup container has an opening through the top thereof, a collar member secured in said opening, said collar member having a central opening defining a vertically disposed, circular, inner wall, ribs integrally formed on said inner wall, and sealing means on the exterior of said core for cooperation with said ribs in sealing said syrup container when said core is inserted into said container through said collar.
 6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein a thin membrane is formed integrally with said inner wall adjacent the bottom thereof, which membrane will be pierced by said core when said syrup container is connected to said core, and a removable cap is provided to seal off the upper end of said central opening in said collar.
 7. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the emulsifying means are placed outside of the syrup container when said container is in use.
 8. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said emulsifying means includes a first cylindrical open topped container, a lid sealingly engaged on the top of said first cylindrical container, a downwardly extending cylindrical core integrally formed on the underside of said lid, a passage extending from the top of said lid to the bottom of said core, an opening in the side of said core adjacent its bottom and a second opening in the bottom of said core, a second cylinder surrounding said core in spaced relation thereto, said second cylinder having an opening through the bottom thereof and a second opening extending through the side thereof aDjacent the upper part thereof, a groove in said second cylinder extending from the level of said second opening in said second cylinder to the level of said opening in the side of said core, seal means between said core and said second cylinder above said second opening in said second cylinder, seal means between said core and said second cylinder below said opening in the side of said core, valve means connecting the interior of said first cylindrical container with said source of gas under pressure, said means connecting said syrup container with said apparatus for providing water being connected to said emulsifying means whereby said gas and syrup mixture will pass through said emulsifying means for emulsifying action.
 9. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein an annular membrane is disposed in sealing relation between said core and said second surrounding cylinder whereby the gas under pressure in the space will be prevented from direct contact with the syrup prior to the emulsifying action.
 10. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein a collar is provided on the top of said lid, and valve means are provided on said apparatus for providing water for cooperation with said collar whereby said emulsifier may be directly connected to said apparatus for providing water.
 11. A device as set forth in claim 8 including a connecting valve on said lid, a connecting valve on said apparatus for providing water, and an outlet line extending between said first connecting valve and said second connecting valve. 